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Keystone’s Bacon & Beer Festival Celebrates 13th Anniversary With More Bacon, Bourbon, And Music Than Ever Before
by Mark Smiley
Bacon: The Keystone Bacon and Bourbon Festival celebrated its 13th year in June, 2024.
The 2024 Keystone Bacon and Bourbon Festival brought a dozen different food vendors, alongside four bacon companies, and 15 bourbon and spirits attendees to the mountains. Pairing with all this bourbon and bacon, guests were treated to an impressive band line-up. Twelve rock bands played over the festival weekend including Summit’s own CB3 and O’Connor Brothers Band, the world’s premier KISS Tribute Band STRUTTER, and the Bacon and Bourbon Festival staple AC/DC tribute band Hell’s Belles. In total there were three festival stages placed throughout River Run Village.
This year, the festival featured more bacon, bourbon, and beer than in years previous. More partners joined the bourbon tour tradition with 15 bourbon suppliers showcasing numerous brands for Hungry Hog ticket purchasers to enjoy. Local mountain man, Bacon Bill, made his debut heading up the event’s kid-centric Camp Bacon.
“After 13 years of a festival you’d think it may be tough coming up with new ideas.” says Maja Russer, Director of Events and Marketing for the Keystone Neighbourhood Company. “The highly creative events and marketing team at the Keystone Neighbourhood Company sat in a room and threw every idea at the wall. The new Harley the Hog mechanical pig, as well as a revamped Camp Bacon were just two of the many items that will make the weekend all about the bacon. A 2023 Festival guest provided feedback in a survey saying, quote: “Draw in the crazies, draw in the committed. Blow me away with bacon.” We are doing our best to fulfill this guest’s and many more enthusiasts’ visions.”
Hell’s Belles: The all-female AC/DC tribute band Hell’s Belles closed the fest with an over 90 minute show that had the crowd dancing and singing the entire time.
The 13th Bacon and Bourbon Festival supports the Colorado mountain community by featuring local businesses, restaurants, and supporting the non-profit Friends of the Dillon Ranger District, the Festival’s beneficiary. For 2024, organizers are working with another prominent community partner, Climax Molybdenum, who this year is helping to power the entire summer festival series volunteer base.
Upcoming festivals in River Run Village include Bluegrass & Beer, August 3-4, 2024; Mountain Town Music Fest, August 17, 2024; and Oktoberfest, August 31, 2024. Visit www.keystonefestivals.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
Photos from KNC Events
Styx and Foreigner: The Renegades & Juke Box Heroes Tour
By Mark Smiley
On June 25, 2024, Styx and Foreigner performed at the Ball Arena for their Denver stop on The Renegades & Juke Box Heroes tour. This was the first time the bands toured together in 10 years. Styx opened with a 13-song set followed by Foreigner’s 10 song set. John Waite started the evening off with an 8-song set that included his solo hit “Missing You” and “When I See You Smile,” the hit from Bad English.
Styx and Foreigner trade headlining on this tour and both bands sounded as good as they ever have. One note, is that none of the original members of Foreigner performed at Ball Arena. They will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this Fall. Styx has been eligible for the Hall of Fame since 1998 but curiously has never been nominated despite having a string of hits and selling over 54 million albums worldwide.
Styx started their set with “Grand Illusion” and ended with “Mr. Roboto” and “Renegade” with all of their hits in between including “Lady,” “Blue Collar Man,” and “Come Sail Away.” Foreigner started with “Double Vision” and ened with an encore of “I Want to Know What Love is” and “Hot Blooded.”
Since 1999, Styx has averaged over 100 shows per year and they have no signs of stopping. Foreigner announced this was their farewell tour. All three acts left the audience singing, dancing, and enjoying good rock and roll music for what ended up being a solid show.
For more information visit Foreigneronline.com and StyxWorld.com. To see more dates on the tour, visit livenation.com.
